READ THE CITIZENS' VOICE

Digital Only Subscription
Read the digital e-Edition of The Citizens' Voice on your PC or mobile device, and have 24/7 access to breaking news, local sports, contests, and more at citizensvoice.com or on our mobile apps.

Digital Services
Have news alerts sent to your mobile device or email, read the e-Edition, sign up for daily newsletters, enter contests, take quizzes, download our mobile apps and see the latest e-circulars.

Contact Us
See department contacts, frequently asked questions, request customer service support, submit a photo or place an ad.

More than a dozen volunteers for the Salem Township No CAFO Organization canvassed the township for four hours Saturday morning.

"Ninety percent (of residents) were interested," said volunteer Ginny Crake. "They were happy to have this information and they were quick to tell us how bad it smells."

Volunteer Jane Burlingame said the purpose of Saturday was to educate people of the "environmental and health risks" CAFO has on the community.

"We're trying to educate them because how many of them have heard of a CAFO?" Burlingame said. "I never heard of it until one went in my backyard and now I know a whole lot about it."

There is currently one pig farm in Salem Township, the Will-O-Bett farm at 137 Bomboy Lane. Plans are in motion to construct a second 4,800-pig barn at 62 Kiliti Road, however, the aforementioned pamphlet states the Salem Township No CAFO Organization is filing a lawsuit within the next few days against the current pig farm owner, as well as any future pig farm ventures.

"I don't know what the basis of any lawsuit would be," said attorney Dave Saba, who represents the people planning to build the second pig farm, David and Marilee Kiliti.

Saba said his clients will follow all guidelines and engage in legal farming activity. He said the area where the Kiliti's plan to build the farm is already zoned for agriculture and they are in the process of obtaining permits before applying to build the farm.

"It's a normal, traditional agricultural pursuit that is governed by law," Saba said. "This isn't some wild, outlaw endeavor. It's a highly regulated (activity) in the commonwealth of Pennsylvania."

But Crake said the aforementioned Will-O-Bett farm not only stinks up a three- to five-mile radius around the farm, it has caused 631 homeowners to see their property value decrease.

"The point that really needs to be hammered home is that depreciation of property values is really what is going to be the problem for everybody in this town," Crake said.

Crake cites a Kingston-based real estate appraiser, who said he feels the Will-O-Bett farm has depreciated 631 homes near the farm. Crake said depreciation ranges from 30 to 50 percent.

Saba said he questions the validity of the appraiser and his valuation. Saba added the desired location of the Kiliti's farm is not intrusive to residents, as it is in a rural part of town.

Nonetheless, Salem Township No CAFO's concerns go beyond the reported pungent smell, citing manure and wastewater from the fields as having the potential to release pollutants. The organization states 175,000-plus gallons of untreated manure on the Kiliti Road site will be spread yearly. The organization also states Luzerne County has a "no commercial pig farm" ordinance, which could have been used to stop the Will-O-Bell farm from operating.

But Saba said some of the information Salem Township No CAFO is spreading is false.

"What are the facts? The facts are this is a proper, lawful agricultural activity," Saba said. "If you look at the entity already in operation, you'll see that. I've seen literature from this group saying there are open waste pits - that's palpably untrue."

According to Saba, consequences of shutting down pig farms include possible outsourcing of agriculture, which would return unsafe or low-quality products, as well as wiping out a population of farmers who depend on farming to make a living.

Volunteer Sarah Perlin said she does not want farmers to cease operations, but to transition to less harmful farming.

"We want to have him change his operation," Perlin said of Paul J. Dagostin, owner of the Will-O-Bett farm. "We want to stop him from farming in this way. â¦ We would love to see his farm be a real farm again."

mbufano@citizensvoice.com

570-821-2117, @CVBufano

We welcome user discussion on our site, under the following guidelines:

To comment you must first create a profile and sign-in with a verified DISQUS account or social network ID. Sign up here.

Comments in violation of the rules will be denied, and repeat violators will be banned. Please help police the community by flagging offensive comments for our moderators to review. By posting a comment, you agree to our full terms and conditions. Click here to read terms and conditions.